March 25, 2021 Meetings

Weymouth School Committee

ZOOM Meeting
March 25, 2021
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 4/8/21)

Members In Attendance: Lisa Belmarsh, Chair; Tracey Nardone, Vice Chair; John Sullivan, Secretary; Kathy Curran; Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw; Carrie Palazzo

Members Absent: Mayor Hedlund

Also Present: Kathleen Smith, Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent; Robert Wargo, Assistant Superintendent

The Meeting Came to Order At 7:00pm.

Chair Belmarsh led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:
The Consent agenda included:

• Warrant 38-2021 in the amount of $821,375.66. Dated March 22, 2021.
• Regular Minutes: 3/11/21, 3/15/21, 3/16/21, 3/17/21, 3/18/21, 3/20/21
• Budget Sub-Committee Minutes: 3/1/21
• Superintendent Search Committee: Regular; 3/11/21, Executive; 3/11/21

Public Comment
The Chair reminded that public comment be in accordance with Policy BED, items on the agenda and kept to 3 minutes; if members wish to speak-name and address should be added in the chat.

-Jen Roberts, 154 King Philipp St.
Spoke on the structure of Mondays and expressed her support for in person instruction for the whole day.

Report of the Superintendent:
Superintendent Smith’s presentation included pictures of Traffic Supervisor Appreciation Day on March 24, 2021 where the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent Smith, Mel Curtin and Robin Howard visited schools. The Superintendent expressed her thanks to Robin Howard and her department for putting together appreciation gifts.

The Superintendent reported on return to school plans and the district being able to meet the mandate for returning 5 days per week beginning April 5, 2021. Superintendent Smith acknowledged the challenges for families on Mondays for half days however stressed the critical importance of professional development for staff during that asynchronous learning time for students. Pictures from Academy Ave. of what return to school looks like were shown. She shared her thanks and appreciation to CTE and its students for building picnic tables and benches to be used for additional outside space as well as conveyed her thanks to Mr. MacLeod for securing tents for outside spaces.

Superintendent Smith gave an overview of the return to school timeline by grade level:
K-5, April 4, 2021
6-8, April 26, 2021
High School, April 26, 2021. Principal Strauss will be presenting at the April 8 School Committee meeting, where further information regarding attendance will be shared.

Governor Baker’s travel advisory, return to school protocols as well as excused and unexcused absences were reviewed.

The Superintendent conveyed her thanks and appreciation to Assistant Superintendent Smith and his staff, Alyssa Bosse, and Dr. Sullivan for their collaborative work with Chief of Staff Langill and town officials.

Superintendent Smith closed her presentation with reading Weymouth Public Schools is ‘No Place for Hate’. The presentation is attached to these minutes.

All questions asked by the committee were addressed. It was reiterated that if a student is symptomatic to be kept home and to work with the individual building principals and health staff.

Abigail Adams Return to School Presentation-Principal Meehan
Principal Meehan gave an overview of the presentation (attached to these minutes) for return to school April 26, 2021. Topics included: Task forces and meetings, goals, the number of students returned to school since late December, cohort analysis, social distancing and safe spacing. Principal Meehan detailed the process of reaching out to families for returning to school and the data collected. Pictures of classrooms were also included in the presentation.

The committee thanked Principal Meehan for the comprehensive and detailed presentation.

WPS Covid-19 Data Dashboard Update
IT Director, Brett Lindholm summarized the update to the website that has streamlined the way Covid 19 information is shared. Jon Godek, Dennis Jones, Alyssa Haggerty and Elaine Lane were instrumental in assisting in the process. The presentation is attached to these minutes.

 

https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/b784acc0-50b5-49d7-863b-d64053cfc096/page/5cR5B

The committee thanked Mr. Lindholm for his work in improving the site.

The Superintendent shared that the district is approaching the 10,000th surveillance test and commented on the partnership with South Shore Health as well as the benefit to the community. Elaine Lane is working with Manet Health in securing staff vaccinations as well.

NEW BUSINESS

 a. Submission to Office of the Mayor of Proposed FY22 Level Service Staff and Level Funded Expenses of $77,706,340 plus additional requests of $2,115,876 for a total School Department Budget request of $79,822,216 (Action Requested)

Assistant Superintendent Smith reviewed the FY22 budget proposal. Per the Mayor's request to departments the proposal will also include additional items. The proposed budget is $79,822,216 which includes additional requests of $2,115,876. The additional requests are compliance, tech leases, curriculum and non union adjustments in addition to full day kindergarten.

Assistant Superintendent Smith shared additional Covid relief has passed; ARP (America Recovery Plan) ESSER. Weymouth could receive 2-2.2 times the Esser II amount which potentially could equal ~$6M which can be utilized over the next 2 and ¼ fiscal years. Legislation from the state is needed regarding specific to town, and/or school allocation.

Working and collaborating with town officials will be ongoing. The Mayor's budget will go before Town Council for a vote in mid April. The Superintendent will present in May during a public hearing.

Dr. Sullivan and the Committee thanked Assistant Superintendent Smith and his team for their systematic and communicative approach which has improved transparency.

Mrs. Curran commented that she will support the budget however wanted to bring priority to the need for math and literacy coaches in the face of unfinished learning.

Motion by Mrs Nardone to submit to the Office of the Mayor of Proposed FY22 Level Service Staff and Level Funded Expenses of $77,706,340 plus additional requests of $2,115,876 for a total School

Department Budget request of $79,822,216. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

b. Special Education Update - Allyson Bell, Special Education Director

Special Education Director Bell, and Special Education Assistant Directors Verlicco and Hayes gave an overview of the presentation (attached to these minutes). Topics included: Special Education student population by program, Staff, Strategic Plans, Teaching and Learning, professional development, program enhancement, processes and procedures, self study review and budget impact. Work will continue with Anne Donovan from Accept Collaborative.

The district will be adding twelfth grade IRC and LBLD classes which enables students to remain in the district. Cost savings are in the millions.

All questions were addressed. The committee thanked the presenters.

c. Section J of the Policy Manual - First Reading

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to table Policy J. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

d. Acceptance of Gifts (Action Requested)

Betsy Harris summarized the report of gifts from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 broken down by school and whether received ‘In Kind’ or Monetarily. Gifts will be reported out twice per year.

Motion Mrs. Nardone to accept the report of gifts. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

e. Budget Sub-Committee Report (Action Requested)

Dr. Sullivan read his report (attached to these minutes) into the record. Topics included: Athletic student & gate fees, Pay Rider Fees, FY22 Needs and Compliance List, and FY22 Budget update.

Motion by Mrs. Curran to accept the Budget Sub-committee report. Seconded by Mrs. Nardone. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

f. Transportation Fee Review

Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that with return to school on April 5 that the pay rider has been reinstated. Calculating with the number of days left in the school year, and cost savings from transportation fall invoicing, the prorated and reduced amount will be $50 per student with a family cap of $150.

Thanks and appreciation was expressed to Robin Howard and her team for all of their hard work during this Covid time.

OLD BUSINESS

a. Superintendent Search Update

Thanks was expressed to the Collins Center for their assistance and guidance throughout the search process. The committee expressed their appreciation for the preliminary screening committee chaired by Ms. Palazzo, administrators, staff, IT, central office staff, Amy Mohr, and especially Eileen Pitts.

The Committee congratulated Mr. Wargo as being unanimously voted Superintendent.

Assistant Superintendent Wargo expressed his thanks, appreciation and excitement.

Dissolve Interim Superintendent Search Committee (Action Requested)
Motion by Mrs. Nardone to dissolve the interim Superintendent search committee. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

Dissolve Superintendent Preliminary Screening Committee (Action Requested)
Motion by Mrs. Nardone to dissolve the Preliminary Superintendent screening committee. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

b. Chapman School Building Update, Adams Renovation and Transportation Building Update (Town Measure 20 072 - Amend Measure 19 017)

Steel beams will be delivered soon and the mock up is posted by the first gate.

c. Joint Committee on Community Host Agreement between Weymouth and Algonquin Gas Transmission regarding North Weymouth Compressor Station

i. Review status of Safety/Evacuation Plans - Teri Fleming, STEM Curriculum Director
Teri Fleming and Dennis Jones gave an overview of the compressor station update. Topics included tabletop exercises at Wessagussett and Johnson Early Education Center, walkie talkie training, and district safety meetings (response, evacuation, receiving sites and reunification). Safety meetings were held with emergency management, police and fire departments. Safety of students and staff is at the center

Thanks was expressed to Mr. Mulveyhill and Mr. Davern of Emergency Management; WPD Lt. St. Croix, and Officer. Flanagan; WFD Deputy Chief Myers; Robin Howard from Transportation; Maintenance leaders John Barker, Mike Pace, Mike Faiella, and Mike Manning; in addition to principals and central office leadership.

The committee expressed their thanks and appreciation for the important work that Ms. Fleming and Mr. Jones are doing.

ii. Request to Submit Brief to Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) (Action Requested)
The Chair explained that as MEMA denied the request for a regional safety plan, the brief is in response to FERC request for information, that is it not an appeal of the host agreement. That in the event of an emergency, resources would need to be shared.

Mrs. Curran shared her opinion that the intervenor should have been filed individually not as a committee and advised that she would need further legal advice before voting.

It was explained that the interventor was filed as a placeholder in the event the committee did want to file a brief in response to FERC’s request for information. Intenentor provides an opportunity to talk and there is no obligation to file.

The brief states the intention not to violate the community host agreement and the filing enables FERC to look at their own internal processes and could help another community.

Motion by Ms. Palazzo to submit Brief to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Seconded by Mrs. Nardone. Motion passes 5-1. Mrs. Curran voted present.

Announcements:
Weymouth Market-April 7, 2021-3:30pm-WHS Gold Cafeteria in a drive thru manner
Town Wide Parent Council-April 13, 2021, 7:00pm-ZOOM
SEPAC-April 27, 2021-6:30pm-ZOOM

Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, April 8, 2021 - 7:00pm

The Meeting adjourned at 9:48pm on the motion of Mrs. Nardone, seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote - passed unanimously.

Documents Attached to These Minutes:

• Superintendent Presentation
• Abigail Adams RTS Presentation
• WPS Covid Data Dashboard Presentation
• FY22 Budget
• Special Education Update
• Report of the Budget Subcommittee
• Safety Plan for Compressor Station Update
• FERC Brief

Respectfully Submitted,

John Sullivan
Secretary

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